Page 15 of Wynns of Change (Wynn Harbor Inn #3)
Robert sat facing the entrance, keeping watch for Harlow. Their eyes met. He gave a tentative wave and sprang to his feet. “Hey. You’re right on time.”
“I didn’t keep you waiting?” Harlow scooched past him to the seat farthest away.
“Not at all. You look good, like you’ve been getting a little sun.” His eyes flicked over her ball cap and T-shirt. A frown appeared and quickly vanished.
She knew exactly what he was thinking. He disapproved of her attire, unbefitting of a megastar. But Harlow wasn’t in California. Mackinac Island was a far cry from the glitz and glam of Tinseltown. No one cared what she wore. In fact, her goal was to blend in, not stand out like a sore thumb.
“It’s amazing what a little fresh air and laid-back lifestyle will do,” she replied. “You should try it sometime.”
“Maybe I will.” He changed the subject. “The studio contacted me. The check should be deposited into our account later today. By the way, they found a minor scene that needs to be redone.”
“I don’t recall the exact terms, but I know I agreed to the retakes within a certain timeframe.”
“Seven days. You have a week from today to fly out to the LA film studio.”
“Will they need to coordinate with the other actors?”
“It was a single scene with only you. Something about the angle was off. Steven assured me it won’t take long, maybe a couple of hours.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Harlow promised.
“I figured as much. He’s expecting your call.” Robert cleared his throat, a sign he had something on his mind or he was nervous. Judging by the sweat on his brow, Harlow guessed it was a little of both. “I’ve…uh…have been doing a lot of thinking.”
A sliver of hope bubbled up. Perhaps Robert had a change of heart about holding her to the management contract and was ready to hammer out an agreement to alter the terms. “About what?”
“About us. The divorce.” Robert hurried on. “We’ve had a good life together, Harlow. A great life. It seems a shame to throw it all away.”
“It does,” she agreed. “I’ll be perfectly honest…ending our marriage was the last thing I wanted. Your actions, showing so little compassion and caring after my accident, was a real eye opener. You basically washed your hands of me.”
Robert hung his head. “I know. Looking back, I guess I freaked out. I wish I could change how I handled things. Unfortunately, I can’t.”
“Not to mention sending someone here to spy on me.” Harlow rolled her eyes. “Why would you do such a thing? You also told people you thought I was having mental issues.”
His contrite demeanor disappeared. Robert’s eyes flashed with anger. “I never said you were having mental issues.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
“Maybe I made a comment or two out of concern, but I never told people you were a whack job or a fruitcake.”
“Look.” Harlow held up her hands. “There’s no sense in rehashing the past. My main concern is to avoid dragging the divorce out.
It will only benefit the attorneys. We’re both reasonable adults.
The goal is to sell the properties, pay off our remaining debts, split what’s left down the middle and call it a day. ”
“Except for the agreement. I’m one of the best in the business.”
It was true. Robert was very good…excellent at his job. He’d snagged some extremely lucrative deals for her. Picking ones that suited her personality, allowing her to shine on the big screen. “Let’s get through the divorce first.”
“What if I told you I don’t want a divorce?”
Harlow stared at her husband in disbelief. “I thought we agreed. Again, I hate to keep reminding you how crappy you were.”
“And I’m truly sorry.”
Before she could stop herself, Harlow blurted out, “What about Jillian?”
“I fired her.”
Her jaw dropped. “You fired Jillian?”
“Yes. I see now how we spent too much time together and how it hurt you.”
“I’m shocked. When…did this happen?”
“A couple of days ago. I’ve done a lot of soul-searching.” Robert’s tone grew earnest. “I’m sitting here asking you…begging you to reconsider. We can enroll in marriage counseling, try to figure out how we got so far off track. What do you say?”
Harlow’s mind reeled. “You caught me off guard. I need time to process all of this.”
“I understand. In the meantime, I’ve asked my attorney to hold off submitting a response.” Robert picked up the menu. “I’m starving. I see they have some healthy dishes for you.”
Out of habit, her husband rattled off what he thought Harlow should order.
In the few short minutes since Robert dropped the bombshell of wanting to reconcile, it became crystal clear to Harlow he hadn’t changed. Despite his apologies and wanting to start over, he was the same controlling spouse he’d always been.
The server arrived, ready to take their order.
“You go first,” Robert said.
“I’ll have a fried chicken sandwich with extra mayo and French fries.”
He grimaced. “Are you sure you want fried foods? As I mentioned, there are healthier options on the menu.”
“I stuck to a strict dietary regimen in Vancouver. I’m going to treat myself to some fried chicken.”
“I see.” He cleared his throat and ordered a salad with vinegar and oil dressing, along with a grilled chicken sandwich minus the bun.
Despite an awkward, even shocking, start to their meeting, the meal shifted to an easy conversation, with Robert sharing his thoughts about the projects he’d sent her.
Peppered in with his “shop talk” were casual comments about how he was looking forward to their trips and travel, places the couple had enjoyed visiting in the past.
Clearly, Robert thought it was a “done deal,” that they would reconcile. He even mentioned taking their New York apartment off the market.
The conversation, her husband’s attitude, showed he hadn’t changed. Not one iota. A tiny voice in her ear questioned whether Jillian was really gone—or merely temporarily out of the picture until Harlow and Robert got back together.
He paid the check and reached for her hand. “We have a great life, a great future together, babe.”
Harlow gently, but firmly, pulled away. Talk was cheap. If her husband was truly regretting his actions, he needed to prove it.
“You could hold off on flying back to LA for a few days and we can meet up at the Malibu house.”
“I need to look at my calendar,” Harlow said. “I have something going on, but can’t remember the exact timeframe off the top of my head.”
“Let me know, and we’ll coordinate our schedules.” Robert shoved his chair back and led the way out of the restaurant. “My ride should be here any minute. I see him now.”
The driver pulled up, waiting for Robert to board the carriage. He turned back, as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Of course.” After he was gone, Harlow hopped on her bike and went for a long ride, replaying their conversation over in her mind.
It was possible Robert realized he’d made a mistake. What would happen when the next crisis, the next accident, or incident occurred? Would he abandon her again, leaving her to fend for herself?
If Jillian was out of the picture, he would be in the market for a new assistant. Maybe he planned to find another beautiful young woman he could mold into his next starlet.
She arrived back home and found her father sitting on the porch waiting for her. “How did it go?”
She climbed the steps and plopped down in the chair next to him. “Robert wants to reconcile.”
David muttered something unintelligible under his breath. Harlow, certain it wasn’t pleasant, didn’t ask him to repeat it. “What did you tell him?”
“I was shocked, considering how he treated me. I told him he caught me off guard and I needed time to process it.”
“Are you seriously considering giving him a second chance?”
Her knee-jerk reaction was to say no. To be honest, she loved Robert as a person but wasn’t necessarily “in love” with him.
After taking a long, hard look at her life and envisioning her future, she knew the two were not on the same page.
Not by a longshot. Harlow wanted children and a family. Robert did not.
She wasn’t on board to continue buying, buying, buying. Harlow planned to scale back, to enjoy what she’d worked so hard for.
The bottom line was the couple were polar opposites about what they wanted out of life. Harlow was also no longer content with letting Robert run the show. She was enjoying her independence, being able to decide what she ate, what she wore.
Even during lunch, she could almost read her husband’s mind and knew what he was thinking. He was itching to tell her she shouldn’t eat certain foods or dress a certain way.
Her gut told her if the couple tried to salvage their marriage, it was only a matter of weeks, maybe even days, before he fell back into his old habits and micro-managed her every move. Harlow wanted no part of it.
“No.” She ticked off all the reasons. Clearly, the relationship had reached an end, whether Robert wanted to accept it or not. However, she would have to tread carefully in the hopes of an amicable divorce, and she could eventually find a way out of the manager’s agreement.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Her father patted her knee.
“It’s not my place to influence you. You’re an adult capable of making your own decisions.
You know how I feel. Robert mistreated you.
I can’t even begin to guess why he wants to get back together, but I don’t think it’s wise and I doubt it would end well. ”
“In other words, I would be asking for trouble.” Harlow rubbed her palms together. “Someone promised to take me fishing.”
“I’m all packed and ready to go.” David ran inside to gather up their gear.
Harlow held the door, waiting for him to wheel his camo wagon onto the porch. “Before we head out, I need to schedule a quick trip to California to retake a minor scene. I would rather fly to the West Coast and take care of it while Robert is busy in New York.”
“I don’t blame you.”
Harlow headed to her room to swap out her clothes for fishing attire. She thought about Jillian and wondered what really went down between the two. Robert had been adamant about keeping her to the point the couple had major arguments over it. Something about the situation didn’t sit right.
Certain there was more to it than Robert’s version, Harlow dialed Jillian’s number. An automated message told her the number she was trying to reach was no longer in service.
Harlow sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone. Perhaps flying to California ASAP would be best. She could avoid Robert and find out what went on between him and Jillian. And figuring it out wouldn’t be difficult because she knew exactly who to ask.